Indie Game Review Tournament

[Kaboose the Moose]

Sure why not? If I do have the time between shifting countries I might just make a submission so yeah..this is my official declaration of interest.

Noted! I shall add you.

Just to clarify Pimp, to what exactly are you adding me to? I just have the sneaking suspicion that you have mistaken the Indie Review Tournament for your Review Wars thread. Granted I would love to do both but February has me resuming uni and it's my exchange year to Australia so I don't think I will have the time to broaden my online commitments than already is. I am afraid that the Indy timetable is a bit more flexible than the Feb 8th one which you have so I can't really participate in that, sorry

 

[Pimppeter2]

snipy

Gah, yea you're right. I mistook this for review wars, what with all the quotes and PMs I was getting.

Sorry about that. Stupid me.

 

[NewClassic_v1legacy]

Does your review have to be posted in the Escapist forums or do we send you the actual review file thingy?

Since the formatting for the review will ultimately end up on a thread, it will work best for you to use the forum's PM system. If you want to write it in a word processor, you're free to do so. Just remember that the review is ultimately to be posted, and your exact wording and formatting will be left intact, including broken code and spelling errors. Make sure to check with the preview function, as errors in code and spelling will no be corrected.

How "indie" does it have to be? Are we talking like "published on SourceForge or without any kind of mainstream publisher?" indie or something like Mount&Blade that was done by a small studio but published in retail stores?

Indie games sold in stores like Mount & Blade or World of Goo are permissible, but major releases like Half-Life and Mass Effect won't fly. If you get the private message in early enough, I'll warn you if the game needs changing, but it's working mostly on the honor system. When in doubt, PM [user]Kuliani[/user] or myself.

How exactly is it anonymous when we have to send it via personal message? xD

It'll be anonymous to the voters, which is what counts. Neither myself nor [user]Kuliani[/user] will be judging.

Does the indie game in question have to not have already been reviewed in a publication of the Escapist (either by the Escapist reviewers or through Community Reviews)?

The review you will be publishing will not be the game you're reviewing for the contest. So you can pick one that has been done, or not at all. It's entirely your choice as to what indie game you pick.

As far as this goes, what is the status on posting these reviews after the competition?

After you're out of the running, your name will be revealed, win or lose. You can still post it afterward if you'd like. If you post it while it's still in the running, it will be disqualified. Keep in mind most reviews will see multiple rounds.

 

[ThePoodonkis]

Eh, what the heck. I'll throw my hat into this ring, as well. I've been thinking about writing a review for [game title deleted] anyway.

One quick and really dumb question, though. Can it be any indie game, or are there certain games you're looking for like ones with a storyline, characters, etcetera?

 

[Say Anything]

If we've reviewed a game in the past, but we write up an entirely new review for it, can we still submit it?

 

[NewClassic_v1legacy]

One quick and really dumb question, though. Can it be any indie game, or are there certain games you're looking for like ones with a storyline, characters, etcetera?

Entirely up to you.

If we've reviewed a game in the past, but we write up an entirely new review for it, can we still submit it?

Absolutely. You're quite welcome to do so.

 

[RentCavalier]

Quick question: Do games on Xbox Live Arcade count as indie?

 

[scotth266]

If you want to write it in a word processor, you're free to do so.

That reminds me... I have to include in my own thread how to turn off Smartquotes, to avoid gibberish symbols showing up when people transfer reviews from Word to the 'Pist.

 

[jango1]

Not sure I'm brave enough to enter, but I might change my mind. Good luck to all who enter though

 

[Lord Krunk]

A question: What constitutes 'Indie'? There's one on my list that's definitely the case, but there's another that I'm not too sure about.

EDIT: The reason I'm asking this question is that I would prefer to do the latter.

 

[NewClassic_v1legacy]

Quick question: Do games on Xbox Live Arcade count as indie?

Most. Try to avoid titles from major publishers like Marvel Versus Capcom 2, but things like Geometry Wars made their start as indie games, so are allowed.

A question: What constitutes 'Indie'? There's one on my list that's definitely the case, but there's another that I'm not too sure about.

EDIT: The reason I'm asking this question is that I would prefer to do the latter.

For questions like these, PM me the title. I'll OK or disallow it on a case-by-case basis.

 

[NewClassic_v1legacy]

Will a review be looked on unfavourably if it uses the Queen's English?

Given that of the three review contests I'm familiar with, I'm the only Americanized-English writer, I'm assuming it won't be a problem. The community is voting, though, so there's no way to know one way or the other.

 

[Triple AD]

What would count as a indie game?. A mod?.

 

[sky14kemea]

Question! What if two people end up reviewing the same game? :0 would you PM someone back and ask them to do another game, or would it still be fine?

 

[NewClassic_v1legacy]

What would count as a indie game? A mod?

Any game that is a very small budget, is being released by an unknown or tiny studio, and is just generally not mainstream. Major developers like Activision/Blizzard and BioWare are out of the running, but hand-made games, things that appear in the showcase [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/events/ids2010] and games that appear in Alt-Escape [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/editorials/alt-escape] all apply. If you aren't sure, PM me and ask if a game is alright. I'll clear it, or tell you to pick another game.

Question! What if two people end up reviewing the same game?

Nothing. Both reviews go into the competition. I don't mind if the same game ends up in the competition twice. Given the popularity of some games, I'm honestly expecting it to happen once or twice.

 

[Lord Krunk]

Deleted because my question's been answered.

 

[The Wooster]

A quick question: Can we provide links in our reviews? Because I currently have a link to TvTropes' MacGuffin page to explain its meaning.

I can always take it out if you're unhappy with it, but the wording won't be as snappy.

I didn't realize you did 'snappy' Lord Krunk.